# Tomb Raider

> 2018 film directed by Roar Uthaug

**Wikidata**: [Q28489891](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28489891)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_Raider_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tomb-raider-q28489891

## Summary
Tomb Raider is a 2018 action-adventure film directed by Roar Uthaug, based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, a young adventurer who embarks on a perilous journey to find her missing father on a mysterious island.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date:** March 16, 2018 (United States)
- **Director:** Roar Uthaug
- **Lead Actress:** Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft
- **Production Companies:** GK Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros. Pictures, Square Enix
- **Budget:** $94 million
- **Box Office:** $274.7 million worldwide
- **Runtime:** 118 minutes
- **Country of Origin:** United States and United Kingdom
- **IMDb ID:** tt1365519
- **Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 52%
- **Metacritic Score:** 48/100
- **Genre:** Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- **Based On:** Tomb Raider video game franchise by Square Enix

## FAQs
**What is the plot of the 2018 Tomb Raider film?**
The film follows Lara Croft, a young woman who discovers her father's secret research about a mysterious island. She travels to the island to find him and uncovers a dangerous organization called Trinity that seeks an ancient power. Lara must survive treacherous conditions and fight to stop Trinity from unleashing a deadly force.

**Who stars in the 2018 Tomb Raider movie?**
Alicia Vikander stars as Lara Croft, with Dominic West playing her father Lord Richard Croft, Walton Goggins as the villain Mathias Vogel, and Daniel Wu as Lu Ren. The cast also includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Derek Jacobi, and Hannah John-Kamen in supporting roles.

**How does the 2018 film differ from previous Tomb Raider movies?**
This film serves as a reboot and origin story, focusing on a younger Lara Croft before she became the experienced adventurer seen in earlier films. It's more grounded and realistic compared to the 2001 and 2003 films starring Angelina Jolie, drawing inspiration from the 2013 video game reboot.

**What video game franchise is the movie based on?**
The film is based on the Tomb Raider video game franchise created by British developer Core Design and later continued by Crystal Dynamics under Square Enix ownership. The 2018 movie specifically draws inspiration from the 2013 game reboot that reimagined Lara Croft's origin story.

## Why It Matters
Tomb Raider represents a significant reboot of a major video game franchise into film, demonstrating the ongoing trend of adapting successful gaming properties for mainstream cinema audiences. The 2018 version matters because it attempts to bridge the gap between video game storytelling and traditional Hollywood filmmaking, featuring a more realistic and character-driven approach compared to its predecessors. The film's production involved major entertainment companies including MGM, Warner Bros., and Square Enix, highlighting the collaborative nature of modern franchise filmmaking. Its moderate box office success and mixed critical reception provide insights into the challenges of translating interactive gaming experiences into passive viewing formats while maintaining the core appeal that made the franchise popular.

## Notable For
- **Franchise Reboot:** Serves as a complete reboot of the Tomb Raider film series, ignoring the continuity of the Angelina Jolie films
- **Video Game Adaptation:** One of the most high-profile adaptations of a major video game franchise, produced with direct involvement from the game's publisher Square Enix
- **Realistic Approach:** Features a more grounded and realistic portrayal of Lara Croft compared to the more fantastical elements of previous films
- **International Production:** Co-production between American and British companies, reflecting the global nature of modern franchise filmmaking
- **Strong Female Lead:** Continues the tradition of featuring a capable female protagonist in a traditionally male-dominated action genre
- **Origin Story Focus:** Centers on Lara Croft's first major adventure, establishing her character development and skills

## Body
### Production and Development
The 2018 Tomb Raider film was developed through a collaboration between multiple major entertainment companies. GK Films, founded by producer Graham King in 2007, served as one of the primary production companies alongside Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Warner Bros. Pictures, and Square Enix. The project was initiated as a reboot of the Tomb Raider film franchise, which had previously featured Angelina Jolie in the lead role in two films released in 2001 and 2003. The development process involved close consultation with Square Enix, the current owner of the Tomb Raider video game franchise, to ensure the film aligned with the tone and characterization established in the recent game reboots.

### Creative Team
Norwegian director Roar Uthaug was selected to helm the project, bringing his experience from directing disaster films like "The Wave" (2015). The screenplay was written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet, who would later go on to write for major franchises like "Captain Marvel" and "Transformers." The film's production design and visual effects teams worked to create a realistic and immersive adventure experience, drawing inspiration from the visual style of the 2013 video game reboot while adapting it for a cinematic audience.

### Casting and Characters
Alicia Vikander was cast as Lara Croft after an extensive search for an actress who could embody both the physical demands of the role and the character's emotional journey. Vikander, who had won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "The Danish Girl" (2015), underwent significant physical training to prepare for the action sequences. Dominic West was cast as Lord Richard Croft, Lara's missing father, while Walton Goggins took on the role of the primary antagonist, Mathias Vogel. The supporting cast included Daniel Wu as Lu Ren, a ship captain who assists Lara on her journey, and Kristin Scott Thomas in a key supporting role.

### Filming and Locations
Principal photography took place from January to April 2017, with filming locations spanning multiple countries to capture the diverse environments featured in the story. The production utilized locations in South Africa, Namibia, and England to create the film's various settings, from urban environments to the treacherous island where much of the action takes place. The filmmakers employed a combination of practical effects and visual effects to create the film's action sequences, with particular attention paid to making the stunts and physical challenges feel realistic and grounded.

### Box Office Performance
The film was released on March 16, 2018, in the United States and grossed $274.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $94 million. While this represented a moderate commercial success, it fell short of the blockbuster numbers achieved by some other video game adaptations. The film's performance was particularly strong in international markets, reflecting the global popularity of the Tomb Raider franchise. The box office results influenced discussions about potential sequels, though plans for follow-up films were ultimately affected by various factors including critical reception and changing studio priorities.

### Critical Reception
Tomb Raider received mixed reviews from critics, with praise directed toward Alicia Vikander's performance and the film's action sequences, while criticism focused on the screenplay and pacing. The film holds a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 324 reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 48 out of 100 based on 50 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Many reviewers noted that while the film successfully captured the spirit of the video game reboot, it struggled to fully translate the interactive experience of gaming into a compelling cinematic narrative.

### Video Game Franchise Connection
The film draws heavily from the 2013 video game reboot of Tomb Raider, which reimagined Lara Croft's origin story and established a more realistic and vulnerable portrayal of the character. Square Enix, as the publisher of the video game franchise, was directly involved in the film's development to ensure consistency with the established lore and characterization. The movie incorporates elements from the game's plot, including Lara's first expedition, her encounter with the mysterious island, and her confrontation with the organization Trinity. This connection to the video game source material was a key selling point for the film, targeting both existing fans of the franchise and general action-adventure audiences.

### Franchise Context
Tomb Raider exists within a larger multimedia franchise that spans video games, films, comic books, novels, and other media. The 2018 film represents the third major attempt to bring Lara Croft to the big screen, following the two Angelina Jolie films and now this reboot. The franchise's longevity and continued relevance in popular culture demonstrate the enduring appeal of the character and the adventure genre. The film's production involved collaboration between companies with different areas of expertise - MGM and Warner Bros. brought their film production experience, while Square Enix contributed their knowledge of the source material and gaming audience.

### Technical Specifications
The film was shot using traditional cinematography techniques with a focus on practical effects where possible. The action sequences were choreographed to emphasize realism and physicality, with Vikander performing many of her own stunts. The visual effects team created the film's more fantastical elements, including the ancient traps and supernatural aspects of the story, while maintaining a grounded aesthetic. The film's sound design and musical score were crafted to enhance the adventure atmosphere and support the emotional beats of the story.

### Distribution and Marketing
Warner Bros. Pictures handled the film's distribution in most international territories, while MGM managed distribution in certain regions. The marketing campaign emphasized the film's connection to the popular video game franchise while positioning it as an accessible action-adventure film for general audiences. Trailers highlighted the film's action sequences and Alicia Vikander's performance as Lara Croft, while promotional materials emphasized the origin story aspect to attract both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise. The marketing strategy also leveraged the involvement of major brands like Square Enix to appeal to gaming audiences.

## References

1. [Tomb Raider. Swedish Film Database](https://www.sf.se/film/NCG495336/tomb-raider)
2. [Tomb Raider (2018). IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1365519/fullcredits)
3. [Tomb Raider](https://www.sf.se/film/NCG495336/tomb-raider)
4. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1365519/fullcredits?ref_=ttloc_sa_1)
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6. Tomb Raider. Rotten Tomatoes
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